Smoking and pregnancy

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 4, 24 June 1986, Page 10

Smoking and pregnancy

Smoking affects more than the smoker especially in the case of a pregnant woman. First smoking retards the growth of your baby in your womb. Babies of smoking women average six ounces less than babies of nonsmoking women. This is caused by several factors. Nicotine restricts the blood vessels and breathing movements and carbon monoxide reduced theoxygen level in the baby's blood. Vitamin metabolism is also disturbed. The weight loss is quickly regained after births. However a follow-up study showed that the seven-year old children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy were shorter, tended to have

retarded reading ability, and rated lower in "social adjustment" than children of mothers who had not smoked during pregnancy. Smoking also increased the incidence of infant mortality. Statistics show a direct correlation between smoking during pregnancy and the incidence of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Women who smoke a pack or more of cigarettesa day during pregnancy suffer about a 50 per cent greater risk of infant mortality. However, research also shows that the added risks of infant death are eliminated if the mother stops smoking before her fourth month of pregnancy. Expectant mothers who care for their families should seriously consider quitting smoking.